Nov 28, 2011

Nov 21, 2011

How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 11.10)

This How-to is for windows dual booters who reinstall an operating system only to find that it has taken away access to their other operating system.

Whether you want to restore the XP, Vista, 7 or Ubuntu (Grub) bootloader, this guide will walk you through it.

All three parts of this tutorial require that you boot from a cd. If you don't know how to do this, check here.

If you have made a mistake and want to revert the changes, simply follow the instructions for reinstalling the previous bootloader. For example, if you have installed vista over ubuntu, try to get the ubuntu bootloader back, but want to get the vista bootloader back, simply follow my instructions for installing the vista bootloader.

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.10 and beyond)

First you need to find out what your drives are called. You can do this by going to a terminal and typing:

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

From that you need to find the device name of your Ubuntu drive, something like “/dev/sda5″.

So, still in the terminal, type:

Code:

sudo mkdir /media/sda5sudo mount /dev/sda5 /media/sda5

And then, to reinstall the grub:

Code:

sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/sda5 /dev/sda

Push enter and you’re done! Of course you need to replace “/dev/sda5″ and “/dev/sda” with what you found in the fdisk output.

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.04 and older)

First of all, all credit for this part of the tutorial goes to catlet. I am simply rewriting his tutorial to have all three bootloaders in this tutorial.

So, lets begin. To restore the grub, you must boot off the ubuntu live cd. Any ubuntu live cd will do.

Once there, open a terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and type this:

Code:

sudo grub

Next, you need to find which hard drive ubuntu and the grub is installed to. You do this by running this command:

Code:

find /boot/grub/stage1

Take note of what it returns (something like (hd0,1).)

Now you need to tell Grub where it is installed. Using the output of the last command, change this one and run it:

Code:

root (hd<a>,<b>)

Replacing <a> and <b> with what you got back before. For example, if "find /boot/grub/stage1" gave me "(hd0,1)", you would run "root (hd0,1)"

Ok, so thats the configuration over and done with. Now we just need to run one command to install the Grub to your hard drive:

Code:

setup (hd0)

Now to quit and check if it has worked:

Code:

quit

Code:

sudo reboot

Make sure you have taken the live cd out of your disc tray. All going well, you should start back up and see the grub once again.

How to restore the Windows XP bootloader

For this you will need your Windows XP installation CD. Boot into it now.

You will get to a part where it asks if you want to repair or recover. To do so, press "r".

If prompted, enter your Windows XP administrator password. This will leave you at at a command line, so type in the following two commands:

Code:

fixboot

Code:

fixmbr

Then type

Code:

exit

then remove your XP cd. If everything has gone well, you should come to your XP bootloader.

How to restore the Windows Vista or 7 bootloader

To restore the Windows Vista/7 bootloader, you must first boot off your Windows Vista/7 installation DVD.

If you have one of the many OEM computers that didnt come with a Vista/7 installation disk, you can get the same effect with a Vista recovery disk, which you can download for Vista or Win 7.

When you get to the Regional settings, select your Location/Keyboard setting then click next. On the next page you must click on "Repair your computer."

On the next page, if it finds your Windows Vista/7 installation, make sure it is UNSELECTED before clicking next.

Then click on "Command prompt". From there, type in the folowing:

Code:

bootrec.exe /fixboot

Code:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr

Now close the two windows and click "Restart."

Take out your Vista/7 DVD and hopefully, you will be left with your Windows Vista/7 Bootloader.

Nov 18, 2011

VMware Player allows you to run entire operating systems in a virtual machine, which runs on top of Ubuntu or Windows. To the guest operating system (the one running inside the virtual machine), it appears as though it were running on its own PC. The host operating system runs the VMware Player, which provides the guest with things like network access. VMware Player is available from Ubuntu's Multiverse repository (in 6.06 LTS through 7.04), but is not included in Ubuntu 8.04/8.10. It can be downloaded for free from VMware.

Virtual machines configured with an operating system and applications ready to perform a specific function are called virtual appliances. An appliance can be created using certain VMware products, or you can download ready-made appliances. A wide variety of appliances (both certified and not) are available from VMware's Appliance Marketplace: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/source